Sharing the Road with Cyclists in Idaho

Idaho is a paradise if you love the outdoors. It offers endless hiking, biking, kayaking, and a host of other outdoor adventures. With the state’s four distinct seasons, you can backpack in the summer and cross-country ski in the winter.

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Because of Idaho’s scenery and its penchant for the outdoor lifestyle, its roads feature many cyclists. Motorists and cyclists sometimes get frustrated with each other on the road.

But there’s no reason they can’t coexist peacefully. The following sections describe what it means to share the road in Idaho, and how motorists and cyclists can commute together in harmony.

What does “share the road” mean?

“Share the road” means that whether you’re a cyclist or a motorist, you should understand that the road doesn’t belong to you exclusively. Other travelers are also using it to get where they are going. They have just as much a right to travel in safety and comfort as you do.

The consequences of not sharing the road can be dire. In July 2016, a cyclist was traveling from Virginia to Oregon as part of a cross-country ride.

She was making her way through Boise, Idaho, when a motorist traveling in the same direction struck her bicycle from behind. Though other cyclists stopped to administer emergency aid, the victim died at the scene. She was only 22 years old.

No charges were ever filed in the crash, and the police didn’t assign fault. So it’s possible that both the cyclists and the motorist were being responsible and that the incident was just a tragic fluke.

– Motorists

When you’re driving a four-wheeled vehicle, you’re the big dog on the road. If you have a wreck with a motorcycle or bicycle, chances are, the other person is going to come in second place. This can have dire consequences for them, including severe injury and even death.

With this power comes responsibility. Take great care to look out for motorcycles and cyclists. Motorcycles use the same travel lanes as cars and trucks.

But they aren’t as easy to see. When checking your blind spot, look carefully so you don’t miss a motorcycle zipping by you. Also, take extra caution when traveling on uneven road surfaces. These can be dangerous for motorcyclists and cause them to fall. Give them plenty of distance.

Though motorists often complain about it, cyclists have the legal right to use travel lanes, as well. Yes, it can be frustrating, given they can’t travel at the speed of most cars, and so they sometimes slow down traffic.

Progressive cities have started to address this problem by installing special bicycle lanes. But these aren’t everywhere yet. So you’ll have to share the road with cyclists for now.

To make it safe for everyone, keep a safe following distance when you encounter a bicycle, and always leave a gap of at least three feet when you pass it from the rear.

– Cyclists

As a cyclist, you also have a responsibility to share the road. But that doesn’t mean you should relegate yourself to the gutter and ride amongst all the debris and broken bottles. Instead, the law mandates that you right as far to the right as is “practicable.”

In simple terms, that means do your best to leave most of the lane open for faster vehicles but don’t squeeze yourself so far to the right that you’re kissing parked cars while you ride.

You also want to be vigilant as you’re riding. Unfortunately, you can’t assume that motorists will always be watching closely for you. It’s a sad truth, but some of them will be speeding, texting, and otherwise not paying attention.

Don’t allow yourself to be cowed by motorists when riding your bicycle. But keep your head on a swivel.

Tips on Sharing the Road

Whether you drive a car, ride a bicycle, or do some of both, you can make the roads safer for everyone by following a few common-sense tips.

– For Motorists

• Drive carefully and cautiously – When you get in a hurry and start driving recklessly and disregarding traffic laws, that’s when incidents happen. Getting to your destination a few minutes faster isn’t worth living with the guilt of striking a cyclist.
• Yield to cyclists – Even if you feel like they’re in your way, remember that you’re bigger than they are, and they stand more to lose than you do in a collision. Be courteous, and yield to them.
• Be considerate – Even if you’re in control of your vehicle, don’t zip by a cyclist and only leave a foot of clearance. Slow down, be considerate, and give them plenty of room.
• Allow plenty of space when you pass – The minimum space you should ever leave when passing a cyclist is three feet. But if you can safely leave more, you should try to do so.
• Expect the unexpected – When you encounter a cyclist, always think one step ahead. Don’t just assume they’ll continue straight on their path and at the same speed. Think about how you’ll react if they suddenly whip in front of you.
• Insurance coverage for accidents involving cyclists – Most auto insurance policies cover accidents involving bicycles. But you should consult with your policy or your agent to make doubly sure yours does.

– For Cyclists

• Obey traffic laws – As a cyclist, you’re subjected to the same traffic laws as motorists. This means you should travel in the direction of traffic and follow all road signs and traffic control devices.
• Wear a properly fitting helmet – A head injury is nothing you ever want to deal with. A properly fitting helmet can mean the difference in life and death in a collision.
• Ride with the flow of traffic – Never ride a bicycle against traffic. You risk a head-on collision this way.
• Wear brightly colored clothing and reflective tape – Motorists should be looking out for you, but you can’t assume they always will be, so make it easier for them. Dress to stand out and be seen.
• Insurance coverage for cyclists – Unfortunately, about 12 percent of motorists lack car insurance. If you frequently ride your bicycle on public roadways, you should consider getting uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in case you happen to be involved in a collision with an uninsured driver.

Dangers of Hogging the Road

Some motorists are downright arrogant in how they interact with cyclists. Don’t be a driver who hogs the road. The consequences can be disastrous:

• Injuries to yourself and your car – Even if you aren’t concerned about the safety of others — which you should be — colliding with a bicycle or motorcycle can cause injuries to yourself and damage to your car.
• Injuries to the cyclist and bicycle – By far, the biggest threat in a motorist-cyclists collision is to the cyclist. Do you want to live with the guilt if you severely injure or kill another person because you felt you deserved the road all to yourself?
• Loss of your license – Driving with reckless disregard for those around you, particularly defenseless cyclists, can result in license suspension or revocation.
• Increase in insurance premiums or total loss of coverage – If you prove yourself to be high-risk by driving recklessly, your insurance company might charge you more in premiums to compensate for the risk. Worse, the company might cancel your coverage altogether.

Finding the Right Car Insurance for You

Which auto insurance policy is ideal depends on your specific needs. You can find the right car insurance for you by following these steps.

– Review Your Policy Every Six Months

Your insurance needs change over time. So do insurance companies and what they offer. Therefore, the policy that was best six months ago might not be best going forward. That’s why you should review your coverage every six months, and make changes to your policy when necessary.

– Compare Three to Four Policies

The only way to know if the policy you’re getting is the best one is to compare it with other available policies. Check out three to four policies before you make your decision.

– Consider More Than Price

The cheapest car insurance isn’t always the best. It might leave out coverage that you need. The company might be unreliable with paying claims or offer bad customer service. Be sure to base your decision on value, not just price.

There’s no reason both motorists and cyclists can’t be safe on Idaho roads. It just requires you to work together and agree to share the road.

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